BIG BOX OR BIG HEADACHES?

When people first start thinking about new cabinets, countertops, appliances, or an entire kitchen remodel, their first thought is often to head to the big box home store. After all, with everything under one roof, you are certain to get the best bang for your buck, right?

Well, it turns out that isn’t always the case. Not only is it possible to get better service with a professional kitchen company like Howard’s Kitchen Studio, it’s also possible to save money, too. Here are four reasons you should consider skipping the big box stores for your upcoming kitchen remodel:

1. Design

It seems that there is an endless stream of ideas laid before homeowners these days when it comes to home improvement. You can tune your TV to your favorite home channel at almost any hour of the day and get fantastic illustrations of how functional and beautiful a kitchen can be. Moreover, social media has a virtual ocean of posts and pins to give us all some great ideas for our homes. When it comes to turning those ideas into reality, however, things can get a little bit more difficult.

Having a professional designer involved in your remodel can make all the difference in the world, for a myriad of reasons. Not every home is built the same, with the same dimensions, priorities, or construction methods. Using a certified kitchen designer adds a wealth of knowledge to your project about code, use of space, and aesthetics that will be applied to the specifics of your home and the possibilities attached to it. Moreover, utilizing a kitchen designer can future-proof the design of your home, keeping it in line with upcoming, and not past, trends in design and usability.

2. Contracting

While “you can do it, we can help,” is a nice idea, it usually expresses neither the desire of the homeowner nor the qualifications of the big box store. Being your own general contractor sounds like a great way to save money, but it can also be a great way to add headaches to your project.

When an install goes wrong (and it can), knowing where to turn can be a difficult concept. If a measurement is off, or an item is not as described, the process of getting those errors resolved can be time-consuming and, at times, costly. Moreover, contacting the big box store to resolve such issues can lead homeowners through a maze of phone trees and departments, often manned by people with no professional experience in the area that needs resolution. A professional kitchen company like Howard’s Kitchen Studio can handle these issues quickly and efficiently, making the process as smooth as possible, even when things don’t go exactly as planned. The experience of designing and installing hundreds of kitchens allows your designer to manage the process seamlessly, to make sure you get the best results in the right amount of time.

3. Quality

While one of the calling cards of big box home stores is their selection, the reality is that a company like Howard’s Kitchen Studio can provide not only a larger selection, but often a higher quality of product.

Cabinets are often one of the most difficult parts of a kitchen renovation. Choosing materials, styles, and hardware can be difficult enough, not to mention the measuring and installation. While stock cabinets will often do the trick, professional kitchen remodelers like Howard’s can offer you the flexibility of stock, custom, or semi-custom cabinetry from companies like Mouser Cabinetry, one of the finest cabinet makers in the world.

Additionally, the range (no pun intended) of appliances available through Howard’s Kitchen Studio is much larger than what you might find at a home store. Whereas you might look for traditional nameplates such as GE or Samsung on the appliances at your local big box store (Howard’s also has such brands available) a professional kitchen company can provide a wider variety of high-quality brands, such as Miele, DCS, and Bluestar. These brands often offer a higher level of quality, better warranties, and increased customization options such as panel-ready designs.

4. Price

Ah yes, the bottom line. After all, isn’t that why most people would choose the big-box store in the first place? Well it turns out that you can often get a better result at a better price than the home store. While Howard’s has designed many kitchens on large budgets, we also love working within the budget of each individual customer. Believe it or not, we can often provide a higher quality kitchen at a lower price than the home store. We can provide you with options to fit your budget, and pair those choices with the expertise of a designer and professional kitchen installer to make sure you aren’t just getting a great price, but great value.

So for your upcoming kitchen remodel, don’t just jump right into the home store! Contact Howard’s Kitchen Studio to see how we can provide you a beautiful kitchen with incredible service, and great value as well.